separates North and South America. The North and North Western parts of North America are but little known.

Of the cities in North America, the principal in the British dominions are

Mexico

N. La. W. Lo.

20° 4' 100° 40' Of great extent, situated on a beautiful lake, and containing a population of 150,000 souls.

17 22 100 10 In the Pacific; the chief mart of

Vera Cruz
Acapulco

19 5

96 50 On the Atlantic.

.Campeche 19 35

trade with the Fhilippine Isles.

91 30 In the province of Yucatan; whence the dyeing woods are brought.

The Rivers of North America are numerous, and some of them of prodigious magnitude. The St. Lawrence is 90 miles wide at its mouth, and navigable for ships of the line up to Quebec, 400 miles from the sea, where it is still five miles broad. It is the outlet of the immense lakes of Canada, already mentioned, which may be called an inland sea of fresh water, Lake Superior alone being 1500 miles in circumference. Lake Huron is 1000 miles in circumference, and storms here are as dangerous as in the ocean.

The famous cataract of Niagara is on the river of that name, which empties itself from the Lake Erie into the Lake Ontario. This cataract is from 140 to 160 feet high, and more than three quarters of a mile in the whole breadth, discharging 670,250 tons of water in a minute; the sound of it is often heard, and the ascending mist seen at an incredible distance. The Susquehanna and Potowmack, which flow into Chesapeak Bay, are important rivers; but the first of North American rivers is the Missisippi, which is joined by the Ohio, in Lat. 36° 10, and by the Missouri, in Lat. 38° 40', and flows into the Gulph of Mexico by New Orleans. The Lake of Winnepig, North West of the five Canadian Lakes, is of great magnitude, and still North, the Slave Lake is 200 miles long and 100 broad.

The Mountains of North America, with the exception of those in Mexico, are not of great height. The most celebrated are those of the Apalachian chain, which extend for 900 miles; but their highest summits, in the province of New Hampshire, are not above 5000 feet, and generally speaking are considerably lower. Mexico abounds with volcanos and mountains of great height

The summit of Orcasilas is visible from the sea, though 160 miles from the coast, and Orizava, near Vera Cruz, is thought to be still higher. The Topian Mountains, on the side of California, form the principal Mexican chain.

The Islands on the coast of North America are, the large island of Newfoundland, near the mouth of the River St. Lawrence, belonging to the English, where the great cod fishery is carried on; to whom also belong the islands of Cape Breton, off Novia Scotia, and St. John's to the West of it. Below these are the Bermudas or Somers islands, four in number, lying off the coast of North Carolina, about midway between Newfoundland and the West Indies. Off the coast of East Florida lie the Bahamas or Lucayos (the first land discovered by Columbus), and below are the important West Indian Islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, or St. Domingo, to the East, and Jamaica below it. Still East of Hispaniola, is Porto Rico. Cuba is 700 miles long, and about 70 broad, belonging to Spain. St. Domingo is 400 miles long, and 100 broad, and was formerly divided between the Spanish and French; but since the French Revolution it has been formed into an independent Government, under a Black Chief, and is by him dignified with the title of the Empire of Hayti. Jamaica is

.

1

170 miles long, and 60 broad, and has been possessed for above a century and a half by the English. Porto Rico is above 120 miles long, and 40 broad, and belongs to Spain. East of these are the Carribbee Islands, the principal of which are Antigua, Guadaloupe, Martinico, and Barbadoes. Below them is the island of Trinidad, ceded by Spain to the English: considerably to the West of which are the Islands of Margarita, belonging to Spain, and, still Westward, Curacoa, belonging to the Dutch.

The religion of the Spanish and French possessions in North America, and the British possessions in Canada, (which formerly belonged to France,) is Roman Catholic. The United States have no established national church, but tolerate all sects of Christians. The Indians are unconverted Pagans, who yet have some notion of a Great Spirit and a future state.

CHAPTER VII.

AMERICA

(CONTINUED).

THE whole top of South America is called the Spanish Main.-East of the Isthmus of Panama, or Darien, and the Government of New Granada, is the Government of Caraccas, Eastward of which is Guiana, divided among the Dutch, French, and Portuguese; East of this is the immense province of Brazil, belonging to Portugal, at the back of which is Paraguay, belonging to Spain. Below is Buenos Ayres, belonging also to Spain, and below it are the Pampas, or immense plains, between the Eastern Coast and the Andes. At the lower part of South America is Patagonia. On the Western side, and above Patagonia, is Chili, East of which, between the Andes, Buenos